Means Test Question

[eddiep]

Teacher
I just sent you an important PM!!

[teacher]

I got it, thanks ;)

I just e-mailed the paralegal with some questions. I don't want to make her mad because she's a very nice lady, but I can't rest until I get them answered.

[TEW]

Have you taken the means test yet? If you are under median and pass the means test you will be fine. I have the same problem and I guess I must be a little slow because for the life of me I can't figure out where to put all my expenses on the means test. But I have noticed on the means test they add in lawyer and administration fees to your expenses. That helps me pass the means test, I think

you have to fill out the schedule I and J
You can pass the means test and not have expenses and end up in a 13. You use the schedules to figure out how much disposable income you have.

[jribe]

Thanks! I've already paid my lawyer $2000 to worry about this stuff for me....but I'm not getting the answers I want.

The biggest one that bugs me is that she said I can only claim 1 vehicle because I am single. I actually own 2, one is paid off and the other is not. I let my mom drive the paid off one.

The means test I found online doesn't say that I can't claim 2...any ideas?

I really hope I don't have to file ch 13....

i used the means test from "legal consumer" (google it), and it lets you claim expenses for the vehicles you own.

I haven't heard that if you're single you can only claim one.

I don't have any first hand knowledge of that, however it doesn't really make sense. If you own it, you own it!

Hopefully someone can chime in..

Plus, what most people do is just wait until they qualify for the ch. 7. Sometimes you have to wait a month or two- but then you don't have to make 3-5 years of payments. Worth the wait to me!

[teacher]

i used the means test from "legal consumer" (google it), and it lets you claim expenses for the vehicles you own.

I haven't heard that if you're single you can only claim one.

I don't have any first hand knowledge of that, however it doesn't really make sense. If you own it, you own it!

Hopefully someone can chime in..

Plus, what most people do is just wait until they qualify for the ch. 7. Sometimes you have to wait a month or two- but then you don't have to make 3-5 years of payments. Worth the wait to me!

Thanks!

I e-mailed the para asking about the vehicle, so hopefully I'll get the answer I want. I don't mind waiting a few months, if that means filing the chapter 7. I don't think I will have a high enough DMI based just on my insurance rates (287 for past 6 months, going down to 227 next month unless i change coverage....), car payment, rent, utilities, furniture payment, cell phone, taxes, gym (dr. note ), blah blah, so...we'll see. I just don't like not knowing all the answers.

[eddiep]

you have to fill out the schedule I and J
You can pass the means test and not have expenses and end up in a 13. You use the schedules to figure out how much disposable income you have.

Don't you enter your expenses in means test to figure out how much disposable income you have?

[LuciluS]

Don't forget any dentist bill. Purchased any Over The Counter drugs i.e., allergy medicine, arthritis medicines, band aids, bandages, etc.

Contributions? If so, will need to be in line with your 2008 tax return. Personal Property Taxes? In AR, we have to pay personal property taxes on our vehicles, Motorhomes, Trailers, etc. Then we pay for our License Plates which is around $25.

Own your on home? Is you real estate taxes included in your Monthly Payment?

Do you rent? Do you carry Renters Insurance? If not, would be a good idea to start.

Do you pay for your Health Insurance and Dental Insurance? Any out of pocket expenses in the past year? If you don't have dental iinsurance, now, would be a good time to get the insurance. Do you have a Cancer policy or Life Insurance policy? If not, now is a good time to get those.

Couldn't sleep so thought about other expenses for you.

Luci

Luci

[teacher]

Thanks!

From the e-mail I got today, the cell phone and car insurance can go on schedule J, but have nothing to do with the means testing.

She asked for an updated current month medical amount and the exact minimum payments (and what the items are) of my furniture accounts.

We'll see....